Chapter Text
Childe felt angry and thrilled at the same time. Right at the time he was going to release Foul Legacy and was stopped brutally by the chief justice of Fontaine. He was unconscious for the moment as he was hit from the back of the neck which wasn't the best feeling.
Now on his way to the prison, or do they call Fortress of Meropide? Though he can easily attack and run away, he is escorted by the Ludex of Fontaine, himself, and there are more than 5 guards behind him. It kind of seems like an exaggeration but at this point, they know that he is lord harbinger and he can easily win the fight. Childe thinks of picking a fight again but after he gets that heavy hit, he feels like he will let it go this time, for now.
When both of them reach the entrance of Fortress of Meropide, the guard walks towards them and bows at them, more likely to Ludex than Childe.
" Monsieur Neuvillette..is this new convict that they speak of? "
She said as she looked at Childe and crossed her arms over her chest. Childe looks back at her with a dull look, acting completely not like someone who is about to set foot in prison. The guard seems to take back when she sees the dull lightless prisoner who shows zero emotion. After all, all convicts that have been brought here show various emotions like sadness, anger, and dis-acceptance. She looks away from him and looks back to the Ludex. Neuvillette senses what is happening so he clears his throat.
" that is correct.. though I will escort him instead "
Childe raised his eyebrows at the sentence. He wants to make a remark but decided against it. After all, he is planning to create more chaos in their so-called Fortress of Meropide since he is still bitter about being charged although he is innocent.
" p-pardon me? Monsieur Neuvillette..I- you do not need to do that. I will escort him to the prison...I will make sure he won't escape "
Childe grinned internally at her courage, but so stupid that she thought a handcuffed harbinger couldn't do anything to her. As he thinks so, the Ludex seems to not agree with her.
" no need...I have a meeting with the duke so I will pay a visit after his settlement "
That makes the guard woman nod and walk away. Neuvillette glanced at him and said, "You might want to back off a little ".
His nonchalant voice makes Childe scoff.
" what- " The ground where Childe, Neuvillette, and few others stand on started to shake. People around him act like this is normal but Childe has to steady himself and then he looks in front of him. The gate from the ground has opened inside which is the stairs and in the middle with the elevator.
" really? Prison underwater? "
Childe said with a shocked tone, he was not that shocked but a prison underwater was also what he had not heard of.
" Yes, though the Fortress of Meropide may seem like a prison but should in fact be regarded as a gathering place for exiles...now come along "
' that's the same shit! You just sugarcoating it'
Childe thinks bitterly, now he is an exile? great...just great...He then follows Neuvillette down the stairs. The elevator is big but not enough for all people except for Neuvillette, Childe, and two more guards.. others stay behind. As they are riding down the elevator, Childe suddenly remembers although he comes to Fontaine for his personal reasons, and now he is in prison. Talk about his luck.
When the elevator opens and they enter inside, they have to walk a bit to the reception. With Neuvillette walking from the front and behind by two guards, Childe still looked around to take note of the surroundings. He must say this place is very different from what it's from back at his home.
Snezhnaya's prison is far away from the town, away from the people of Snezhnaya. Being sent to prison is equivalent to losing a life. Since the whole judgment system is entrusted to Fatui themselves but not her majesty, the convicts are also given choices like joining Fatui instead of going to prison. Either way is not the best choice but people would either serve to Her Majesty alive than having to live in far away place who knows where it is. Childe knows where are the prisons and what they look like, but that is not one of his favorite places either.
When they reached the girl called Maratte behind the desk, she said something about documents and shooting the mug shot. Childe is amused that this is the first time he has to do a mug shot although he has his fair share of long-listed crimes. After the mug shot and everything, someone approached them which made Childe's attention move to him. Since Neuvillette talking with Maratte about something, Childe is free for now.
" Hey, you. You must be a new inmate, right?”
Childe stared at the man with short dark brown hair and dark brown shirt and shoulder straps Jean.
"Oh my yes! I am new here, Comrade. You can call me Childe
" Childe quickly put on his mask of 'Childe' rather than the Tartaglia one he put on when he walked here. He does not want to scare people away, not for now.
" Save it. Unlike I'll remember your name so move it "
' heh '
If this is a part of Fatui members or someone not from here, surely he would be dead. The well-feared young lord of eleven harbingers does not make his name from just fooling around, of course. Childe gritted his teeth but he quickly wore a big smile.
" My... Aren't you rude? You should tell me your name too and surely you would like to know the new inmate after all we would be meeting from time to time " Tartaglia grinned. A mare person won't see but if they pay attention enough, they would see a ginger smile is not a friendly one but a threatening one.
" like I said I don't remember it and why should I tell you my name? What's in it for me? "
His bored tone makes Childe's blood boil but he doesn't want to pick a fight, not when the Ludex is near.
" Well, what do you want? I mean I have plenty of mora to spare if that's what you want " The man scoffed at him and it makes Childe want to lose his patience but he is still holding in.
" the mora is useless here. Look, you look so clueless so let me tell you something. Whether you are a rich man or not, when you step foot in here, it means nothing. We use credit coupons for everything. Desires, Power. Anything. Coupons can change Fate itself. Now, since I share information, remember to give me coupons next time "
'Coupons huh? Interesting '
Before Childe can say anything, Neuvillette pop up beside him which makes Childe flinch but he acts back to normal. How light-foot this man is that Childe's years of training can't pick it on. ' I do need more training '
" My apologies, I have something to catch up on. Now we shall go"
The existence of a chief justice makes the man panic and bow at him.
" Chief justice- I mean Monsieur Neuvillette- "
"Sorry for interrupting but I must see the duke. Have you seen him? "
Childe wants to laugh at the man who is now stuttering and not knowing what to say at the certain interruption of his speaking. He is the type who would be angry when someone cuts his speech but this is the chief justice of Fontaine. He cannot shout at him or something.
" right- right. Duke must be currently in his office after patrolling "
Neuvillette nodded at him and walked past. Childe and other guards follow him, and As they pass, Childe grins at the other man's miserable face and then looks forward. ' serve him right '
After a minute of following Neuvillette, Childe sighed. " do I still need to follow you? We are already inside. The chances of me running away are very low with plenty of gardemeks, No? "
Childe said unbothered as if he didn't destroy them while they were in the court. When the other person did not give a reply, Childe decided to stop talking. The atmosphere is not tense or awkward which somehow makes Childe remember...certain someone who he left in Liyue. Though that person is with him, he would have been talking non-stop and Childe would have listened. It is not what it seems but Childe does not like to speak too much. Well, Tartaglia does not want to. He is rather cut to the chase and speaks with actions but with Childe's facade, he has to say both what he wants to and not want to just so he can do some business. After all, sometimes, flattery and nonsense would get you somewhere.
After the noise of the boots but the silence between them, they arrive at a big door. Childe looks around and is impressed about how the duke's office is located not at the top but at the bottom. Surely, this is not strange or not something common. People with higher status have higher positions of place but there has to be something that makes the head of Fortress of Meropide.
Neuvillette step close to the door knocks and then wait. After a loud speech of come in, from the inside, both the harbinger and chief justice go inside as guards stand outside. The younger one started to look around the room and then to the person who was sitting behind the large desk, reading some papers. ' So he must be the Duke'
Childe must say he is an interesting one since he can see the scars on his chest through the button-off shirt. What kinds of dealing ' the duke ' have to deal with that he got those nasty scars? If there is the doctor or the captain, they must have at least concluded something but to the young lord of harbingers, that is a sign that he must have a great amount of fights in the past which makes Childe thrill and look forward to it.
' now this place isn't bad after all '
" ah. What do I own pleasure for Monsiure Neuvillette to pay a personal visit to me "
Wriothesley put his paper away and stood up from his chair with a smile. Childe analyzes him quietly behind the chief justice and the man is not amused with how the lord of Fortress is behaving.
"Wriothesley" His stern tone makes Wriothesley stop for whatever he is going to say. But, he cleared his throat to continue and he crossed his arms on his chest.
" No..but you never left Palais Mermonia..even when I even invited you for tea...so what's up? "
Neuvillette looks at him for a moment and says,
" Oratrice Mecanique d'Analyse Cardinale has a Verdict Mr.Tartaglia is guilty "
When Neuvillette mentions, the duke looks after him to see a ginger man standing there with a handcuff. He raised his eyebrows and looked back to the judge.
"Okay..? And? Isn't that why he is here? "
He asked confusedly since he did not know where Neuvillette was going with this. Like What is the exact reason why he is here?
Neuvillette deeply sighed before he said the next sentence.
" because I already declare that he is not guilty but the Oratrice Mecanique d'Analyse Cardinale said he is "
Wriothesley tried to keep up with what he said for a moment. " wait, so you mean you don't know a reason why Mr.Tartaglia is guilty? "
The sight of Neuvillette shaking his head makes him think that this isn't the normal case. But why does the machine have to act up?
" Okay..look..whatever you guys are gonna discuss soon, do I really need to be here? "
The bored tone from the certain ginger makes the room freeze or more like between judge and duke. Right..he can't hear anything since Neuvillette is standing close to the desk and he is near the door.
" Ah..Mr.Tartaglia...sorry for that. You can go now...since Monsieur told me your situation"
" whatever..."
Neuvillette looks at the harbinger who is definitely not acting like a man who is pissed off because of the verdict. Humans are surely strange. He wants to ask but he decides not to instead as he thinks other won't answer him.
" Until I find the truth, I must say you have to stay here and serve for now. Mr.Tartaglia "
" yeah yeah I know.."
Childe rolls his eyes at that. As if he isn't already in here.
" can I really go now? Is there any room for me to rest? Such a heavy hit makes me still dizzy you know "
He says while he uncuffing himself, ignoring the stares from two men that are in the same room. He threw the handcuff away and looked at them, waiting for a reply.
" yes, of course. You will see someone when you are out of here "
Wriothesley said after he saw the handcuff unlock like it was too easy for him. He must be some big shot to be able to do that..or maybe someone who has experience to these things.
" good to know "
Childe left the room, not caring what would other two said. He would still pick a fight if he did not start dizzy. He really needs to lay down for a pick. Even someone like him, the weapon of the Tsaritsa, has his limits. Maybe not now but he knows he will be able to get out of here. Who is he to wait for whatever the future has provided him. He would rather find a way to himself.